Celebrate, listen and feel: the New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus is staging three spirited shows this weekend as part of Albuquerque Pride’s 50th anniversary, blending powerhouse choral sound with theatre-style choreography to honour queer history and push back on threats to rights.

Essential Takeaways

  • Three performances: Friday 7:30pm (Highland Theatre, Albuquerque), Saturday 7:30pm (Lensic, Santa Fe), Sunday 2pm (Highland Theatre).
  • Show title and tone: "Existence is Resistance" mixes celebration with a cautionary edge about civil liberties.
  • What to expect: Big choral harmonies, choreographed numbers and a cross between a concert and a Broadway show.
  • Audience perks: Discounts for people 30 and under; tickets available via the chorus website.
  • Community roots: The ensemble draws singers across the LGBTQIA spectrum and leans on a long-standing mission to "change the world through music."

Why "Existence is Resistance" matters now

The title sits heavy with meaning and a little defiance, and that hits you before the first note. According to the chorus’s artistic director, Aaron Howe, the show was built to acknowledge both the gains the community has made and the real worry about losing rights. The music promises to be joyful and soulful, but there’s an undercurrent of urgency , a reminder that performance can be political and consoling at the same time.

What the concerts actually feel like

If you picture a choir in robes, think again. Howe describes the concerts as part choral event, part Broadway-style spectacle, which means tight harmonies, movement and theatrical staging. Audiences can expect a lush, full-bodied sound and moments that invite you to clap, laugh or catch your breath. It’s the kind of show that feels communal , you’re not just watching, you’re sharing an experience.

Where and when , practical bits to know

Shows run across two venues: the Highland Theatre in Albuquerque and the Lensic in Santa Fe, with the weekend schedule built to make it easy for folks in both cities to attend. Friday and Saturday nights are the prime evening slots, with a matinee on Sunday. Tickets are on sale through the chorus website, and there are discounts for attendees aged 30 and under, which is handy if you’re bringing younger friends or family.

The chorus’s role in a 50-year celebration

This weekend’s performances are part of a bigger moment: Albuquerque Pride’s half-century milestone. Events like this are about memory as much as music , local history, community organising and the small rituals that keep movements alive. The chorus itself has been a steady presence in New Mexico, using song to build visibility and connection across generations.

How to pick the right performance and prepare

If you want an electric theatre vibe, an evening show will give you lights, staging and a slightly more dramatic atmosphere. The Sunday matinee is a friendlier pace if you prefer daylight travel and an earlier finish. Tickets may sell fast around Pride weekend, so book early; and expect strong vocal projection, close seating and moments that reward listening closely , bring comfortable shoes and an open heart.

It's a small, resonant way to mark 50 years: sing along in your head, soak up the harmonies, and leave with something that lingers.

Source Reference Map

Story idea inspired by: [1]

Sources by paragraph: